Form separator



C. LATHER FORM SEPARATOR Dec. 25, 195] 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 Filed July 6, 1948 mu ILA/ uh C. LATHER FORM SEPARATOR Dec. 25, 1951 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 Filed July 6, 1948 N W \N I BY aw i Patented Dec. 25, 1951 "UNIT-ZED STATE-s PATENT OFFICE FDRM SEPARATO-R "Carl LatherQC hicagm 111., assigno'r toRedl-Ri'p CompanyjMilwaukee, Wis.,"a'partnership "App'lica'tionfl uly' 6, 1948,Serial N; 37,282

"Claims. :1

'flfhis" invention relates to a form separator and=particularly has referenceto a...machine for Si parating' form' -sheets from carbon-sheets inter- .pos'ed between the form sheets to make a plurality 'of' copies .bfthe'writing or typing on the uppermost or original "sheet of the set. i

' Forms suchasduplicate invoices and the like are made upin sets comprising the original'and duplicate form sheets with carbon paper interposed between the respective sheets for purposes of reproduction. The form sheets are made with perforatmns near the top or each sheet to "facilitate separating the sheets from the set.

--The carbon. paper interposed between the form sheets is not perforated as are the'form sheets and does not extend to the bottom edge of the formshe'ets. This-construction of the pad or set permits the form sheets to be separatedfrom the set by'pulling them out together and without disturbing the 'carbo'ns'which are then discarded.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a simple, compact, portablemachine for separating the completed forms from carbon paper interposed therebetween.

"Another "obje'ctis 'to provide a machine "for separating completed fo'rm's from carbon paper interposed therebe'tw'een' which tends to separate the" forms from the "set by' tearing themrrom "one end tothe other.

Another object is to'provide a form separator which is readily adjustable for handling forms orreirrerent'size. V 1

Afur'ther object offithe invention is toiprovide a form 's'eparatorwhich can be employed insepar'ating only "a' few pages of forms from carbon "paper interposed therebetween, ora" "substantial "Fig. '7 is an enlarged side elevationalviewillus- -trating a set or .rpad of for-ms to which i the inven *tion is applied; and

s is atop plan view of the setof-forms of Fig. '7 with-different sheets brokenaway to illustrate the constructionof the pad.

- Referring to the-drawings the form separator there shown -for purposes of---illustration comprises in general the movable base member 'I and the stationary-base member -2 i for supporting the machine onatable orthe like and--which--are joined by a pair of spaced horizontally extending rods 3. The rods 3 aresecured to stationarybase 'member Z- -near the top and pass through-the sockets 4 located-adjacent the top of base member' l --and alsothe -base "member proper itself.

Base member I may be -moved longitudinally of rods -3 to regulate the-spacingbetweenmember l and member. 2 to accommodate sets of forms-of different-length. -When located as desired the knurled set screws S -in the-side of base member l are tightenedagainst the rods 3 to secure the base member against movement relative to 'baseme-mber 2.; If-desired any suitable means (not shown), suohasa rack on eachrod 3 and a cross-shatt-imbase I with pinions meshing with -the -correspondingracks; -may be employed to --move=base member lalong -both rods-3 simu1- 'taneously.

Fig. 1 in elevation i-llustrates one positionof base member I with respect to base member Z and the dotted 1 lines show base member I in its extended position to accommodate apad oft-forms Fof considerable length. Iha-machine is con- :structed M a-width to handle standard size sets of-for-msover a -=considerableaange of difierent widths.

V The J movable base it has a flat =table-liketop 5 which in' fact serves as the lower jay/of the holding "clamp $01 be described "and upon which rests the head 1 :of a set of' formssuch asthose generally:designated as-8-in Figs. 7: and 8. The holding clamp has' the upper: jaw member 9 with a transverse =-pivot -shaftwhich is journaled in the -bearing lugs I-ll provided: in transversely space'd relation on the reartportion orthebase "top-onlowerjawt lhe lever arm I i -extends outwardly-from-Jaw 9 of the clamp to "facilitate pivoting oflthe clamp bythe operator to an openand closed. position. The "thin edge l2 which inlay-be iser-rated,.i'f.de sired, extends-downwardlyiromflthe forward end otijaw-ilto engage head t the set omorms 3 frosting 1-0" "\ba'sef top' 6. r and 'clamp. ithe :same tightly against": base 'top' ifi under. pressure from pin 20.

the operator on lever arm II when the clamp is swung to closed position. When open an abutment on the rear of the jaw 9 engages an abutment I3 on base top 6 to limit the movement of the clamp.

The clamp for gripping and separating the form sheets I4 from the carbon sheets I5 of the set of formsv 8, as illustrated in Figs. 7 and 8, is secured to the stationary base member 2. The separating clamp has a flat top lower jaw I6 which, when the clamp is open, lies on a plane slightly above that of the top of the forward upright I! of base member 2. The upper jaw I8 cooperates with lower jaw I6 to complete the clamp.

The legs I9 extend downwardly from each side of lower jaw I6 and are pivoted to base 2 by the bearing pins 20 which are threaded into the side of the base. The coil spring 2I extends between lower jaw I6 and base 2 and is lodged in suitable seating grooves in jaw I6 and. base 2 to confine the spring in service.

The upper jaw I8 of the separating clamp is pivoted towards the rear thereof to the bearing lugs 22 which extend upwardly from each side of lower jaw I6 substantially centrally thereof. The thin edge 23 corresponding to edge I 2 of the holding clamp, and which also may be serrated, extends downwardly from the forward end of jaw I8 to clamp the lower end portions of sheets I4 of the set of forms 8 tightly against the lower jaw I6 when the clamp is closed, as will be described.

The rear end portion of jaw I6 projects diagonally upwardly from the body of the jaw and the generally rectangular frame member 24 is pivoted to each side of the jaw rear end portion.

The forward transverse bar of frame 24 engages the underside of upper jaw I8 and the lever arm 25 is secured to the center of the rear transverse bar of frame member 24 for actuation of the clamp by the operator. The light spring 26 is seated between jaws I 6 and I8 of the clamp between bearing lugs 22 and normally biases the upper jaw I8 upwardly to maintain the jaws apart when the clamp is in open position.

In order to facilitate breaking of the perforations 26, one of bearing pins 20, as shown in Fig. 5 and in dotted lines in Figs. 1 and 3, is located lower and to the rear of the pin 20 on the opposite side of the base. In addition a longer leg I9 is employed with the lower offset With this construction, under a tendency of the paper forms to stretch, by employing a greater radius between one of the pins 20 and the line at which the edge portions of the forms are clamped, there is a tendency of the perforations 26 to break first at one end and to continue to break thereafter across the forms rather than to all break at onetime.

In operation of the machine the movable base I is first moved along rods 3 until'it is spaced correctly from stationary base 2 to receive the set of forms 8 to be separated. The knurled set screws 5 are then threaded home agains't'r'o'ds 3. The holding clamp is next applied as in Fig. 3 by moving the lever arm II over and down towards forms 8 to clamp the head I of the set of forms between the depending edge I2 of upper jaw 9 and the top 6 of base 2, comprising the lower jaw of the clamp, as the operator applies pressure on lever arm I I.

As soon as the head I of the 'set of forms 8 .is clamped as described, the operator presses downwardly on the lever arm 25 of the separating clamp ivoted to stationary base 2. This movement of the lever arm closes the upper jaw I 8 to clamp the lower ends of sheets I4 between the upper jaw I8 and lower jaw I6. Further movement of lever arm 25 pivots the entire separating clamp upon the bearing pins 20 away from the forward upright I1 and compressing coil spring 2|, so that the sheets III are pulled away from head I breaking the perforations 26 such as those shown in Figs. 7 and 8 and leaving the shorter unperforated carbon sheets I5 attached to head I. Fig. 3 shows the position of the separating clamp during the separation operation.

The set of forms are readily supported in the machine on the top of adjustable table top 6 and movable table top It before the separating operation is begun and are readily inserted in the clamp as the holding clamp is swung out of position and jaws I6 and I8 of the separating clamp are held open by light spring 2'6.

The machine is light in weight and portable, and is compact so that it can be used with a minimum space requirement on a desk or table.

In addition, the machine will accommodate sets of forms of various widths and is adjustable to handle forms of different lengths.

Various embodiments of the invention may be employeed within the scope of the accompanying claims.

I claim:

1. A manually operable lightweight portable form separator machine for separating perforated form sheets from a pad head and from shorter sheets of said head interposed between the perforated sheets, which comprises a pair of spaced base members adapted to rest on a common support, means adjustably securing said base members in a selected spaced relation to accommodate selectively sheets of different length therebetween, a pivotal jaw member on one of said base members having a jaw extending laterally across the top of the base and adapted to move downwardly upon the top of the base member to clamp the free end of said perforated sheets therebetween, a manually operable hand lever secured to said jaw member to operate the same, a clamp pivoted to the other of said bases'and extending across the same with upper and lower jaw members providing a mouth opening toward said first named jaw and base members to receive the head of said form sheet pad, means to bias said clamp to a normal loading position, stop means limiting the biased movement of said clamp, and a single manually operable hand lever secured to said clamp and disposed to close the clamp upon said head under pressure and thereafter to. pivot the clamp bodily upon'said base against said biasing means and in a direction away from said first named jaw and base members by a single stroke of said lever, said levers being. disposed to be pressed downwardly toward the support for said base members when applying pressure to' close the jaw and clamp whereby manual actuation of said levers by the two hands of an operator does not displace the machine from its support and an effective clamping pressure and tearing movement may be obtained;

2. A manually operable lightweight portable form separator machine for separating perforated form sheets from a pad head and from shorter sheets of said head interposed betweenthe perforated sheets, which comprises a pair of spaced base members adapted to rest upon a common support, means to secure said base members in selective spaced relation to accommodate sheets of different length, means carried by one of said base members to clamp the free end of said perforate sheets, a manually operable hand lever disposed to operate said clamping means by one hand of an operator, a clamp carried by the other of said base members to clamp the head of said sheets, means pivotally supporting said last named clamp upon the corresponding base to pi ot on a transverse axis disposed substantially below the position for the head of the sheets whereby pivotal movement of said clamp in a direction away from said first named clamp effects tearing of said sheets at a line of perforations adjacent the head and initial separation of the sheets, and a manually operable hand lever disposed to operate said second clamp and by a single operating stroke from the other hand of the operator to additionally pivot the clamp upon its base to effect separation of said sheets, said levers being disposed to be pressed downwardly toward the support for said base members in operation to prevent displacement of the machine from the support.

3. A manually operable lightweight portable form separator machine for separating perforated form sheets from a pad head and from shorter sheets of sa d head interposed between the perrorated sheets, which comprises a pair of spaced base members adapted to rest upon a common support, means to secure said base members in selective spaced relation to accommodate sheets of diiferent length, means carried by one of said base members to clamp the free end of said perforate sheets, a manually operable hand lever disposed to operate said clamping means by one hand of an operator, a clamp carried by the other of said base members to clamp the head of said sheets, means pivotally supporting said last named clamp upon the corresponding base to ivot on a transverse axis disposed substantially below the position for the head of the sheets whereby pivotal movement of said clamp in a direction away from said first named clamp effects tearing of said sheets at a line of perforations adjacent the head and initial separation of the sheets, means normally supporting said clamp upright upon said pivot and in loading position. and a manually operable hand lever dis osed to operate said second clamp and by a single operating stroke from the other hand of the operator to additionally pivot the clamp upon its base to efiect separation of said sheets, said levers being dis osed to be pressed downwardly toward the support for said base members in o eration to prevent displacement of the machine from the support.

4. A manually operable lightweight portable form separator machine for separating perforated form sheets from a pad head and from shorter sheets of said head interposed between the perforated sheets, which comprises a pair of spaced base members adapted to rest upon a common support, means to secure said base members in selective spaced relation to accommodate sheets of different length, means carried by one of said base members to clamp the free end 01' said perfcrate sheets, a manually operable hand lever dis posed to operate said clamping means by one hand of an operator, a clamp carried by the other of said base members to clamp the head 01' said sheets, means pivotally supporting said last named clamp upon the corresponding base to pivot on a transverse axis disposed substantially below the position for the head of the sheets whereby pivotal movement of said clamp in a direction away from said first named clamp effects tearing of said sheets at a line of perforations adjacent the head and initial separation of the sheets, and a manually operable hand lever disposed to operate said second clamp and by a single operating stroke from the other hand of the operator to additionally pivot the clamp upon its base to effect separation of said sheets, said levers being disposed to be pressed downwardly toward the support for said base members in operation to prevent displacement of the machine from the support, and said pivot supporting said last named clamp being disposed at an acute angle to the longitudinal center-line of the position of the sheets to effect a greater initial pivotal movement for said clamp at one side of the sheets than at the other side whereby tearing of said line of perforations is effected progressively at least initially.

5. A manually operable lightweight portable form separator machine for separating perforated form sheets from a pad head and from shorter sheets of said head interposed between the perforated sheets, which comprises a pair of spaced base members adapted to rest upon a common support, means to secure said base members in selective spaced relation to accommodate sheets of different length, means carried by one of said base members to clamp the free end of said perforate sheets, a manually operable hand lever disposed to operate said clamping means by one hand of an operator, a clamp carried by the other of said base members to clamp the head. of said sheets, means pivotally supporting said last named clamp upon the corresponding base to pivot on a transverse axis disposed substantially below the position for the head of the sheets whereby pivotal movement of said clamp in a direction away from said first named clamp eflects tearing of said sheets at a line of perforations adjacent the head and initial separation of-the sheets, means normally supporting said clamp upright upon said pivot and in loading position, and a manually operable hand lever disposed to operate said second clamp and by a single operating stroke from the other hand of the operator to additionally pivot the clamp upon its base to effect separation of said sheets, said levers being disposed to be pressed downwardly toward the support for said base members in operation to prevent displacement of the machine from the support, and said pivot supporting said last named clamp being disposed at an acute angle to the longitudinal center-line of the position of the sheets to effect a greater initial pivotal movement for said clamp at one side of the sheets than at the other side whereby tearing of said line of perforations is effected progressively at least initially.

CARL LATHER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,503,003 Nehring July 29, 1924 2,158,727 Morrison et al May 16, 1939 2,289,161 Zalkind July 7, 1942 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 166,809 Germany Jan. 6, 1906 336,409 France Mar. 8, 1904 

